Can-heading machine



J. BRENZINGER.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919. RENEWED SEPT.26, 1921.

1,400,796 Patented Dec. 20, 1921,

J. BRENZINGER.

CAN HEADING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919. .BENEWEDSEPT.26, 1921.

Patentw Dec. 20, 1921 Wfii SHEEISSHEET 3.

J. BRENZINGER.

CAN HEADING MACHINE. APPLICATION man mAYs, 1919. RENEWED SEPT.26, 1921.

1,400,796,, Patented Dev. 20, 1921-.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. BBENZINGER.

CAN HEADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1919; RENEWED sumzs. 1921.

1,400,796., Patented Dec. 20, 1921-5 6: 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- units JULIUS BRENZIN'G-ER, 01E FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAX AME; MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CANJ'IEADZNG TIIACHINE.

Lhflilflll".

Application filed May 5, 1919, Serial No. 294,835,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JULIUS Bnnnzrnenn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fairficld, in the county of F airfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Heading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for hermetically joining the side and end portions of sheet-metal containers, commonly known as tin cans, by the so-called double seaming process which, as is wellknown, consists in intercurling or interfolding superposed flanges on said portions and compressing the inter-curled or interfolded layers into a substantially solid bead.

As a general rule, this process has been carried out through the cooperative action of a chuck and a plurality of so-called seaming rollers, the former supporting the assembled parts against the forces of the seaming operation and the latter being successively brought into rolling contact with the cover-flange to first curl or fold the same around under the body-flange and then subject the layers to the necessary compression. This type of machine, while in extensive if not almost exclusive use at the present time, and while it has been demonstrated to be satisfactorily efiective for practical purposes, is not without objection.

In the first place, the peripheral. groove in the seaming roller of this type of machine, into which the flange edge is directed for the curling or folding operation-several revolutions of the roller being necessary to complete each step of the complete seaming operationmust obviously be of uniform depth and contour, and the roller gradually moved bodily toward the supporting chuck as the metal layers take their new shape and reduced bulk. To a certain extentpossibly to a reasonably satisfactory extent-the curling or folding pressure may undoubtedly be properly directed, but the action is that of pushing and partially guiding only, the metal taking-the desired shape on account of its resiliency and its yielding resistance to forces tending to change its form, In other words, the reformation is not under positive control, and as under modern methods of manufacture of tin-plate perfect homogeneity is out of the question, the metal will obviously shape Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2%, i921.

Renewed September 26, 1921. Serial No. 503,470.

differently when weak spots are encountered by the seaming roller with the possibleif not probable-result of an imperfect seam. illlS ob ect1on might be Inimmized through the employment of a large number of rollers, but the number of rollers which can. be manipulated around the chuck is necessarily limited by the very nature of things and, furthermore, the employment of more than three rollers has been found to be impracticable-even three necessitating mechanism objectionably complicated for most purposes. The superposed flanges, substantially in their entirety, should be initially received within the forming groove andremain therein throughout the entire seaming operation, the configuration of the groove changing progressively as re-formation of the flanges progresses, whereby such re-formation is at all times under absolute control. Obviously, this cannot be accomplished with the employment of the ordinary type of circularly grooved seaming rollers.

Furthermore, when the roller must be mounted for lateral reciprocation, toward and away from the chuck, it is apparent that the positional relationship between chuck and r ller at the end of each stroke toward the chuck cannot be predetermined in practice with a desirable degree of exactitude, particularly when the wear of bearings and other parts is taken into consideration, and this renders necessary frequent adjustment which at best falls far short of insuring practically perfect cooperative action. On the other hand, if chuck and roller were both mounted for rotation about fixed axes, the problems of adjustment and practically perfect cooperative action would be materially simplified if not solved.

In a prior Patent, No. 1,121,89 granted to me December 22, 1914, there is shown and described a can heading machine in which the chuck and the seaming roller rotate about fixed axes, the seam-forming groove in the roller being in spiral or helical arrangement/and gradually changing in contour, with the above and other purposes in view. I consider the machine of my earlierpatent aforesaid practical and successful, and a decided improvement over all machines of the reciprocating-roller type. The principal object of the'present invention is to carry several steps in advance the invention of said prior patent; for examples, first, by positively driving the seaming roller and frictionally rotating the supported can parts, whereby. the metal is drawn or pulled into shape instead of being pressed or pushed into shape; second, by changing the disposition of the axis of rotation of the seaming roller with respect to the axis of rotation of thesupported can parts and in view thereof the general contour of the roller from cylindrical to frusto-conical or conico-cylindrical, whereby the distorting forces are better directed to produce the de-.

sired results; third, by making the machine more nearly automatic; fourth, by incor- .of a comparatively wide, flat seam, instead of the substantiallyround bead of the cans with which we are familiar in this country,

z probably for the reason that cans with relatively flat seams may be slightly better and more easily boxed or packed than cans with substantially round beads. Only with diflicultyif satisfactorily at all-can a flat seam be produced by a machine of the reciprocating-roller type, while it maybe readily and practically perfectly produced by the machine of the present invention.

Incidental to' the above, I have generally V in view the greatest possible simplicity of construction and operation in amachine of this character, coupled with the utmost dependability and durability.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference .to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine which I consider a practical and convenient embodiment of the invention;

F ig.'2 is a front elevationthe reof, partly,

in section and partly broken away Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on the broken line t-lof Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is avertical section,taken substantially on the broken line 5- 5 of Fig. 3

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the seaming roller, and

Fig. 7 is a central sectional side or'edge thereof, with afragmentary sectional view of the assembled can parts to be joined, illustrating the; operation of the spiral groove. 1

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 11 designates generally aheavysupporting and partially incaeing frame which,

may include a conventional base (not shown) for support-from the floorinthe view of one usual manner. Reciprocably slidable in bearings in the arm 12 projecting forwardly from the frame 11 is the vertical shaft 13 having a head or block 1 1 secured at the upper end therof, said head or block being circularly recessed for the reception of the cylindrical stem or shank 15 of the lower chuck 0r can-supporting platform 16. I prefer to interpose betweenthe lower end of the stem or shank l5 and the bottom of the recess the ball 17 and to provide the antifriction rollers 18 18, whereby the chuck or platform 16 is freely rotatable with respect to its supporting head or block 14. At the end of the forwardly-projecting arm 19 at the upper end of the frame, I mount a sleeve 20 providing bearings for the vertical shaft 21 therein, said shaft being rotatively supported by means of a fixed collar 22 at the upper end thereof resting upon the upper end of said sleeve. 1 have shown an adjusting screw 23 by means of which, in connection with the set-screw 23, the vertical position of the shaft 21'may be varied, and I also prefer to interpose balls 24: and rollers25 25,'in a common and well-known manner, to minimize friction, whereby said shaft will rotate freely and easily.

At the lower end of the shaft 21 is mounted the upper chuck 26, the diameter of which should correspond to the diameter of thecentral depressioni'n the cover of a can of standard size whereby, when the lower chuck or platform 16 is raised, with the assembled cam parts 27 thereon, the upper chuck 26 will enter said depression and support the now gripped parts against the forces of the seaming operation for which the parts are now properly positioned.

The seaming roller 28 (whichwill be hereinafter described in detail) is mounted at the lower end of a shaft 29 rotatable in bearings provided by the sleeve 30 carried by the bracket. 31. The relativelyheavy plate 32 of the incasing frame 11 is provided with avertical channel -or way for the reception of the base-plate 33 ofsaid bracket, whereby the latter, with all of its appurtenances, is vertically reciprocable. The bracket 31 is supported for vertical reciprocation by means of a boss 34 projecting from the base plate 33 thereof andthrough a slot 35 in the plate 32 at the bottom. of the channel or way therein. The boss'34 carries a-roller 36 in the groove37ofa facecam 38 mounted at the end of a shaft 39 suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. Rotation of the face-cam 38 will vertically reciprocate the bracket 31 in a particular manner to be j hereinafter described r The, main driving shaft 40 is suitably journaled in the frame of the machine, and I have shown the same provided with. the usual fast and loose pulleys .41 and 42 designed to be connected in the usual manner with a source of power. On the shaft 40 is mounted the oblique-toothed gear 413 in mesh with a corresponding gear aid on the vertical shaft 45. At the lower end of the shaft a5 is the worm 4:6 in mesh with a gear 47 on the shaft 39, wherefore it will be apparent that upon rotation of the driving shaft 40 the face-cam 38 will be rotated relatively very slowly and the bracket 31 reciprocated.

In the bracket 31 is journaled the short vertical shaft &8 carrying the elongated pinion 19 and justunderneath the latter the oblique-toothed gear 50 in mesh with a corresponding gear 51 on the shaft 29. At the upper end of the shaft &5 is mounted the pinion 52 in mesh with an idler gear 53 which, in turn, is in mesh with the elongated pinion 49. It will now be apparent that upon rotation of the driving shaft 10, the shaft 48 will be rotated by the elongated pinion 49, irrespective of the vertical position of the bracket 31 and, therefore, the shaft 29 and the seaming roller 28.

The seaming roller 28 is preferably between two and three times the diameter of the standard size of circularly-grooved roller, and is provided with a continuous groove 54 in the form of a spiral or helix. This groove gradually decreases in depth from the bottom to the top of the roller, increasing in width asthe top of the roller is approached to accommodate the intercurled or interfolded layers of metal, and may possibly otherwise vary in crosssectional configuration according to the character of seam which it is desired to produce. The superposed flanges of the end and side portions of the can enter the groove as the rotating roller is depressed, supported by the upper chuck in the manner described, and the projecting edgeof the cover-flange is first folded (or curled) around the edge of the body or side-portion flange. Upon continued depression of the rotating roller 28, the seam is finally completed as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 7.

If this spirally grooved roller were cylindrical, rotating about a vertical axis, the in clination of the groove would obviously be so slight that for all practical purposes it might be considered as horizontal, wherefore the thrust against the supported flanges would be purely edgewise in relative direction. If, however, the groove can be given a materially greater inclination from the horizontal, the cover-flange will first be engaged by the upper wall of the grooveinstead of by the bottom thereof-and be positively started upon its downward deflection before the intercurling or interfolding action at the bottom of the groove, thus practically insuring against mutilation due to the starting of the metal in the wrong direction. I obtain this desired increased inclination of groove by making the roller in the form of an inverted truncated cone and so incline the shaft 29 upon which it is mounted that the side of the roller adj acent the upper chuck 26 is always vertical, as. clearly shown in Fig. 3, the degree of inclination of the shaft 29 and the pitch of the cone-surface being obviously the same. It will be seen that the vertical side of the roller adjacent the chuck 26, as the bracket 31 is depressed, will move downwardly in a vertical path, precisely the same as would this side of a cylindrical roller rotating about a vertical axis, although the relative direction of travel of the groove has been materially altered.

Reciprocation of the bracket or slide 31 is subject to three requirements. First, it must be lowered at a speed to insure proper functioning of the seaming roller; second, it should be raised to initial position after each seaming operation with all possible despatch; third, it should remain in a condition of rest in its raised position for a sufiicient period of time to permit of the removal of the headed can and the positioning on the lower chuck or platform 16 of the assembled parts of the next succeeding canto be headed.

In all of the views the bracket or slide 31 is V shown or indicated in its raised position, with the roller 36 in the groove 37 of the face-cam 38 as'shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that the first quarter turn (approximately 90) of the cam, in the direction of the arrow, the groove being circular, will have no effect upon the bracket or slide 31, and during this period the lower chuck or platform 16 is be ing raised, with the assembled can part-s thereon, in a manner to be hereinafter described. The next half turn (approximately 180) of the cam will effect depression of the bracket or slide 31 at a predetermined uniform speed, as hereinbefore set forth, while the last quarter turn (approximately 90") will effect the raising of the bracket or slide to initial position at accelerated speed, and during this period the lower chuck or platform 16 is depressed for removal of the headed can.

To raise and lower the chuck or platform 16 and properly time movements thereof, I mount in the lower part of the frame a shaft 55 having a sleeve 56 loose thereon from which project forwardly the arms 57 5'7 and rearwardly the arm 58. At the ends of the arms 57 57 are pivoted the links 59 59, the other ends of which are pivoted to the collar 60 loose on the shaft 13. The loose collar 60 is connected with a fixed collar 61 on said shaft by means of pins 62 62 screwed into the former and passing loosely through the latter, interposed rubber washers 63 63 providing for a certain amount of play limited by the nuts 64 64 on the ends of said pins. At the end of the arm 58 is pivoted the vertical 10d 65 at the upper end of which is provided of aface-cam '70 mounted at the end of the shaft 39. Thecontour of the groove 69 is such that the rod 65 is depressed while the bracket or slide 31 is in a condition of rest in'its raised position. Depression of the rod 65 causesthe elevation of the lower chuck or platform 16 and therewith the assembled can parts 27 thereon to engagement with the upper chuck 26, the rubber washers 68 63 compensating for slight unavoidable variations in the height of the can bodies. The lower chuck 16 is held in this raised position until completion of the seaming operation, whereupon the rod 65 is raised, thereby lowering the lower chuck 16 and releasing the headed can which may be removed while the bracket or slide 31 is being raised to initial position. p

The machine described may be readily adjusted for the heading of cans of various standard sizes by dividing the arm 12-and interposing between the sections thereof one or 1 more spacing plates 71, securing the whole together by means of cap screws 7 2, and interposmg between the end of the arm 19 and the sleeve 20 one or more corresponding spacing plates 73. I prefer to provide the upper spacing plate 7 3 with transverse key-ways in" front and rear faces in which are mounted keys 74c 74: adapted to fit in similar and cor responding ways in the face of the arm 19 and the bearing-block 20, respectively. The

bearing-block 20, the spacing plate 7 3 and the arm 19 are clamped together by means of the cap screws 75 75, while a line adjustment-essential for the chuck 26-may be made by means of the set screws 76 in the bearing-block 20 which act against the spacing plate 73. Soft rubber washers 77 between the heads of the cap screws 7 5 75 and the bearing-block 20 provide for the necessary flexibility of connection between chuck andv seaming roller to compensate for irregular ties in the metal being formed and the increased thickness of the work at the side seam of the can body.

The particular contour of the groove illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is one which is adapted to form the flat seam to which I have hereinbefore referred. Obviously, a difiere'nt character or form of seam would result from" a groove of different contour, and yet every movement of the metal in process of re-formation be positively directed and absolutely controlled.

Many other modifications of minor details of my improved can heading machine will" doubtless readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I therefore do not desire to limit my inven:

ion to the specific construction herein shown and described.

I claim:

1 In a can heading machine, a seaming roller having an operative face of substantially conical contour with a spirally arranged groove therein. 7 V

2. In a can heading machine, a seaming roller having an operative face of substanoperation to start and complete the formation of a hermetic double seam, and means for actuating said roller. i

4%. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting in assembled condition superposed flanges of can-body and head, of a conicocylindrical'seaming roller having compound motion and cooperating therewith to start and complete the flange inter-curling and compressing operations, and means for positively actuating said roller to effect all movements thereof. x 5. In ajcan heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supportingin assembled condition the parts to be joined, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a single seam-forming groove therein adapted upon actuation of said roller to start and complete both theinter curling and compressing steps of the seaming operation, and means for actuatingsaid roller. 7 i V I 6. In a, can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting in assembled condition the parts to be joined, of a seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said supporting'means and havmg bodily movement parallel there-V to, said roller having a peripheral configuration adapted upon actuation thereof to start and complete the seam ng operation,-

and means for actuating said roller.

7. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supportingji'n assembled condition the parts to be joined, of a I conico-cylindrical seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of. said supporting means and having bodily movement parallel thereto, said roller havinga peripheral configuration adapted upon actuation thereof to start and complete the seaming operation, and means for actuating said roller. 7 V

8. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting in assembled condition the parts to be joined, of a conico-oylindrical seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said supporting means and having bodily movement parallel thereto, the degree of inclination of said axis of rotation equaling the pitch of the conical surface of said roller and said roller having a peripheral configuration adapted upon actuation thereof to start and complete the seaming operaatlOIl, and means for actuating said roller.

9. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively support ing the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylindrioal seaming roller having compound motion and being provided with a continuous seam-forming groove into which said flanges are directed and in which they remain throughout the entire seaming operation, relative positions of cooperating parts varying as said roller is actuated to start and complete both the flange inter-curling and compressing steps of the seaming operation, and means for imparting compound motion to said roller.

10. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having compound motion and being provided with a continuous seam-forming groove into which said flanges are directed and in which they remain throughout the entire seaming operation,

said groove being of gradually varying dimensions, and means for imparting compound motion to said roller.

11. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seamforming groove therein, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting bodily movement thereto.

12.111 a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seamiorming groove therein of: gradually varying dimensions, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting bodily movement thereto.

13. In a can heading machine, the oombination, with meansfor rotatively supporting the work, of a seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said work and having bodily movement parallel thereto, said roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movement thereto.

14:. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said work and having bodily movement parallel thereto, said roller having a spirally arranged seamiorming groove therein of gradually varying dimensions, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movement thereto.

15. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotat-ively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said work and having bodily movement parallel thereto, said roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movement thereto.

16. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said work and having bodily movement parallel thereto, said roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein of gradually varying dimensions, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movement thereto.

17. In a can heading machine, the-combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said work and having bodily movement parallel thereto, the degree of inclination of said axis of rotation equaling the pitch of the I conicalsurface of saidroller and said roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein, and means "for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movementthereto. 1 i i p 18. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the work, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller'mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotationot said work and having bodily movement parallelthereto, the degree 'ot inclination of said axis of rotation equaling the pitch of the conical surface of said roller and said roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein of gradually varying dimensions, and means for simultaneously rotating said roller and imparting said bodily movement thereto.

19. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylin drical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein, means for supporting said roller for IOtELtlOIl about an axis inclined'from the axis of means for reciprocating said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said roller parallel toitself, and means for rotating said roller.

20; In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein of gradually varying dimensions, means for supporting said roller for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said flange-supporting means, means for reciprocating said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said roller parallel toitself, and means for rotating said roller. p p

21, In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seamforming groove therein, means for supporting said roller for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotat on of said flange-Supportingmeans, the degree of inclination equaling the pitch of the conical surface of said roller, means for reciprocatingsaid roller-supporting means to shift theaxis of rotation, of said roller parallel to itself, and means for rotating said roller.

22. In acan heading machine, the combi-r natiomwith means for rotatively supporting varying dimensions, means for supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a (romeo-cylindrical. seaming roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove; therein of gradually said roller for rotation about-an axis in- 'clined from the axis of rotation of said flange-supportingmeans, the degree of inclination equaling thefpitch of the conical surface of said roller, meansfor reciprocat- 7 ing said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said roller parallel to itself, and means for rotating said roller.

23. In a can heading machine,'the combination, with a rotatable chuck and rotatable means for raising the assembled'can parts to and supporting the same against said chuck,

of a single seaming roller havingocompound motion and intermittently cooperating-with #said chuck to successively start and complete I both the inter-curling and compressing steps of the seaming operation, means for actuat-' ing said roller, and means for automatically actuating saidraising and supporting means between successive operations of said roller.

24:. In a, can heading machine, the combination, with a rotatable chuck and rotatable means; for raising the assembled, can parts 1' torand supporting the same against 521d.-

chuck, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having compound motion and intermittently cooperating with said chuck to successively start and complete both the inter-curling and compressing steps of the seaming operation, means for actuating said roller, and means for automatically actuating said raising and supporting means between successive operations of said roller. 7

25. In a can heading machine, the combination, with rotatable means for engaging and supporting the parts to be joined, of a seaming roller, means for positivelyrotating one of said elements, means for varying provided with a spiral seam-forming groove into which the flanges ofssaid parts'are directed, and means for automatically actuat ing said engaging, and supporting means prior to each operation of said posit-ion varying means.

27; In a can heading machine, the-combination, with rotatable means forv engaging and supporting the flanged parts to be oined, of aconico-cylindrical 5631111115 roller, means for impartingrelative rotary movement to said elements,means for varymg the relative vertical positions thereof,

said roller being provided with a spiral seam-forming groove into which the flanges of said parts are directed, and means for automaticallyv actuating said engaging and supporting means prior to each operation of said position'varying means.

28. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can'bodyand coveriwhen assembled, of a conico-cylindriv cal' seaming roller having a spirally arranged seameforming groove therein, means for supporting said roller for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said flange-supporting means, means for reciprocating said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said rollerpar- 'allel to itself, means; for rotating said roller,

means. for'automatically actuating said engaging and supporting means prior to each operation of said position varying means,

29. In a can head-ingmaehine, the combination, With means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover when assembled, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein of gradually varying dimensions, means for supporting said roller for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said flange-supporting means, means for reciprocating said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said roller par allel to itself, means for rotating said roller, and means for automatically actuating said engaging and supporting means prior to each operation of said position varying means.

30. In a can heading machine, the combination, with means for rotatively supporting the superposed flanges of can body and cover When assembled, of a conico-cylindrical seaming roller having a spirally arranged seam-forming groove therein, means for supporting said roller for rotation about an axis inclined from the axis of rotation of said flange-supporting means, the degree of inclination equaling the pitch of the conical surface of said roller, means for reciprocating said roller-supporting means to shift the axis of rotation of said roller parallel to it self, means for rotating said roller, and means for automatically actuating said engaging and supporting means prior to each operation of saidposition varying means.

in testimony of the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two.

Witnesses.

J ULIUS BRENZINGER. Witnesses A. YOUNG, F. J. C. FREDERICK. 

